The product is a communication protocol which supports sending transactional detail information about retail pari-mutuel wagers to the host racetrack, and establishes a “host in control” wagering environment. Use of the protocol will enable the pari-mutuel industry to migrate from the current “store and forward” pool transmission model to systems that verify wagers at the point of sale, and simultaneously record this information at the host racetrack.

The protocol was released and is owned jointly by Churchill Downs, Inc.; Magna Entertainment Corp.; the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority; the New York Racing Association; the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Inc.; the Jockey Club; the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America, Inc., on behalf of its members; and the Woodbine Entertainment Group.

The protocol will be licensed for non-exclusive use at no charge, in perpetuity, for all companies participating in legal pari-mutuel wagering. The ownership group and all North American-based totalizator companies collaborated on the creation and documentation of the protocol.

Other racing industry organizations that will be involved in its continued development and implementation are North American racing commissions, primarily through the Association of Racing Commissioners International; Harness Tracks of America; and the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau.

Broader participation from numerous domestic and international pari-mutuel organizations will be standard procedure, beginning with a solicitation of comments and suggestions on Version 1.0, during the next five weeks.

Comments and proposed enhancements from interested parties concerning Version 1.0 should be submitted in electronic text with supporting documentation to Wagering@TRPB.com, no later than September 30, 2006, for consideration at a protocol working session which will be held in mid-October 2006. The protocol document is available online at http://www.tra-online.com, under “Important Links,” on the right side of the page.